2026 Tennessee football Checker Neyland, homecoming games announced

[ad_1] 2026 will mark the sixth football season for Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel. The season will also be the third with 16 SEC teams after Oklahoma and Texas became league members in 2024.

The Vols will kick off their 2026 football season Sept. 5 versus Furman at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols will also host Kennesaw State (Salute To Service), Texas, Auburn (champions weekend), Alabama, Kentucky and LSU, while playing at Georgia Tech, Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt during the 2026 campaign.

Beginning in 2026, Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as permanent opponents. Each SEC school will have three permanent opponents and six rotating opponents for the next four years.

Tennessee's Checker Neyland game will be against Texas. The SEC contest is slated for Sept. 26 at Neyland Stadium.

Nov. 7 will also mark homecoming for the Vols against Kentucky.

More: Josh Heupel details if a starting quarterback will be named in spring

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Oct. 2, 2004; Knoxville, Tennessee; Tennessee Volunteer tailgaters prior to kickoff against the Auburn Tigers at Neyland Stadium.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Oct. 2, 2004; Knoxville, Tennessee; Tennessee Volunteer tailgaters prior to kickoff against the Auburn Tigers at Neyland Stadium.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years The G10 parking garage located between Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee's campus in Knoxville on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Tennessee Volunteers fans tailgate on top of G10 garage outside of Neyland Stadium prior to the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers on Oct. 15, 2022 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Downtown Knoxville serves as a backdrop for fans tailgating on the top of the G10 garage before Tennessee's SEC conference game against Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Tailgaters gather on top of the G10 parking garage next to Neyland Stadium prior to the Vols matchup against the Montana Grizzlies Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Kids play parking lot tag football as fans tailgate pregame before the Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Mississippi Rebels, 27-10, at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 1, 2005 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years The Big Orange Army tailgates with Volunteer fans outside the stadium prior to the game as the Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Mississippi Rebels, 27-10, at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 1, 2005 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Vols signage returns to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee ahead of the 2022 football season (July 6, 2022).

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Oct. 5, 2019; Knoxville, Tennessee; Fans of the Tennessee Volunteers and Georgia Bulldogs tailgate outside Neyland Stadium.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Neyland Stadium towers over G10 garage on University of Tennessee's campus in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 29, 2026.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Vols signage returns to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee ahead of the 2022 football season (July 6, 2022).

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years General view as fans tailgate prior to the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 30, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Neyland Stadium towers over G10 garage on University of Tennessee's campus in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 29, 2026.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Tailgaters next to Neyland Stadium before the Tennessee versus Georgia game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Vols signage returns to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee ahead of the 2022 football season (July 6, 2022).

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Cars fill the upper levels of the G10 parking garage located between Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee's campus in Knoxville on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Cars wait to turn into the G10 parking garage located between Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee's campus in Knoxville on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Vols signage returns to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee ahead of the 2022 football season (July 6, 2022).

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PHOTOS: Tennessee's G10 parking garage through the years Vols signage returns to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee ahead of the 2022 football season (July 6, 2022).